2015 saw more people use our websites than ever before reading articles on everything from crime and tragedy, important plans for the borough and our sports stars. These are the stories you clicked on most.

January

Surrey Comet:

Texan couple Samuel Goetsch and Stephanie Dodd


An American flew his Harry-Potter-loving girlfriend to England so he could propose at Surbiton train station.

But his plan was almost scuppered by weekend train cancellations.

Samuel Goetsch, 24, flew with his fiancée-to-be Stephanie Dodd, 25, all the way from Houston, Texas to propose in the station which has a pivotal scene in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.


February

Surrey Comet:

High performance cars such as Audis (pictured) were targeted

Police were hunting "well organised" teams of cross-county burglars who target homes for raids on particular days.

The men, believed to be travellers or of eastern European origin, use high-performance cars like BMWs and Audis to get in and out of their target area, and often raid several homes for cash and jewellery in one visit.

Kingston detectives said the groups were being tracked by police forces in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, as well as the Metropolitan police.

They warned residents of Kingston, Sutton and Croydon to be vigilant, and said so far the groups appear to have operated along the A3 corridor, particularly in New Malden.

 

March

Surrey Comet:

A man died after falling from Tolworth roundabout on to the underpass.

Police closed off the A3 southbound at the roundabout and paramedics treated the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.


April

Surrey Comet:

Hina Shamim died after being hit while crossing Penrhyn Road

Kingston University student Hina Shamim was knocked down and killed just metres from campus by a BMW driver.

The death of the popular 21-year-old sparked a huge outpouring of grief.

Seven other people were injured in the crash, including the BMW driver, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, is currently on police bail.

 

 

 

 


May

Surrey Comet:

Kyle Stanger outside the TDV Building

Teenager Kyle Stanger launched a campaign to raise more than a £1m and save a Surbiton landmark from becoming flats.

The 18-year-old was trying to buy the TDV Building known as the ‘birthplace of the Mini Cooper’ in Hollyfield Road.

The garage was set up by Formula 1 legend Sir Jack Brabham, who died last year.

Sir Brabham won two world titles with Cooper in 1959 and 1960.


June

Surrey Comet:

Raymond Meerabeau outside the New Malden B&Q

A DIY enthusiast pointed out a hazard at a B&Q had his efforts rewarded with a life time ban from every branch of the business.

Raymond Meerabeau, 64, visited the B&Q in New Malden by the A3 flyover and noticed the cover had come off a fuse box near the lifts, exposing wiring.

He took photos of the fuse box and showed them to a manager – but was instead told off for taking pictures inside the store.

A company spokesman confirmed managers have the right to issue bans and this was deemed appropriate for Mr Meerabeau.

 

July

Surrey Comet:

The Cap in Hand in Tolworth

The Cap in Hand pub, was bought by an Isle of Man-registered company Mendoza Ltd from the JD Wetherspoon group.

It was originally announced the move would see the pub, just off the Ace of Spades roundabout, close in August but it was given a short stay of excecution to the end of the year.


August

Surrey Comet:

McClusky's nightclub announced it had closed via its Facebook page.

The riverside venue, which hosted stars such as Pete Doherty, was converted into cocktail bar Viper Rooms, set to feature on this list shortly


September

Surrey Comet:

Kingston University was listed as one of four to give a platform to extremists by David Cameron.

The Prime Minister also named King's College London, University of London's Queen Mary and School of Oriental and African Studies .

When pushed to explain the reason Kingston was named the Cabinet Office refused to provide details


October

Surrey Comet:

A cocktail bar which had only opened in the summer was temporarily shut after a violent assault described by Kingston's top cop as the worst he had seen.

Two French nationals were attacked in Clarence Street just past 2am on Monday, October 19 after they had been drinking at the Viper Rooms.

 

November

Surrey Comet:

Schoolgirl Lavna Chuttoo was hit and killed by a truck in New Malden.

The Coombe Girl pupil, 14, was crossing the road on her way to school.

The tragedy sparked a huge outpouring of grief and support for her family.


December

Surrey Comet:

Faulty traffic lights saw such tailbacks between Hampton Court, Molesey and Esher that drivers abandoned their cars in the road and walked

Motorists blamed malfunctioning temporary traffic lights, installed by UK Power Networks during roadworks, for causing "traffic hell".

There were reports of tailbacks on Esher Road stretching two miles from Molesey to Esher station.